Kwara launches cattle insemination programme to raise dairy and meat output
The programme was inaugurated at TGB Farms in Ganiki, in Ilorin South Local Government Area, by Oloruntoyosi Thomas, Kwara’s commissioner for livestock development. She said the initiative would continue after its initial phase and would involve thousands of cattle across the state.
Before insemination, the animals underwent synchronisation. Thomas said the state planned to establish an artificial-insemination centre in Malete and introduce similar facilities in other selected communities. The centres are intended to improve farmers’ access to the service.
“One of the ways to improve breeds is through artificial insemination. We are going to inseminate thousands of cattle across the state,” Thomas said. She added that the programme was beginning with 500 animals in September and that the state hoped to reach roughly 1,000 by year-end.
The state is involving students of animal production and young people from pastoralist communities in the work. Participants included students from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University in Malete and Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto. Thomas said the programme was intended to build a pool of trained artificial-insemination technicians, which she linked to lower operating costs, better synchronisation and higher chances of successful insemination.
Ahmed Umar, director of livestock in the Ministry of Livestock Development, said cooperation among farmers and other participants in the livestock sector would be needed for the programme to succeed. He put the expected success rate of the exercise at 85% and called for support from stakeholders.
Saka Shittu, team lead at Genex URUS American International Animal Breeding Company, said selected semen was being used to improve cattle quality, with an emphasis on dairy production. The scheme currently covers cattle and is intended to be extended to other livestock. Shittu said the service was free in Kwara, with each farmer eligible to have two cattle inseminated without charge, and urged pastoralists and smallholder dairy farmers to participate.
The inauguration included officials from the livestock ministry, the state’s permanent secretary, Muhammed Yahaya, representatives of SAPZ and L-PRES, and students and pastoralist youths. Ishola Peace, director of TGB Farms, said the farm’s participation would allow it to benefit from the state’s livestock-development initiative.
